Weekly Newsletter |
Monday 17th February 2020 |
Sky have announced a whole load of commissions, making this week's news truly bumper-packed! We have those stories, and plenty more, below. Why not drop into our forums to discuss what you're looking forward to the most?
Latest comedy news
Rufus Hound and Katy Brand to star in Everybody's Talking About Jamie
Rufus Hound and Katy Brand are joining the cast of the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie.
The Goes Wrong Show gets second series
The Goes Wrong Show, from the writers of the hit Goes Wrong series of stage comedies, will return to BBC One for another series.
This Time With Alan Partridge to return
This Time With Alan Partridge is to return to BBC One for a second series, Steve Coogan has said. He has also revealed a Partridge podcast will be launched soon.
Celebrities to try stand-up for Channel 4 show
Five celebrities are to try stand-up comedy for a Channel 4 show linked to the network's Stand Up To Cancer charity appeal.
Zoe Lyons to host physical game show Lightning
Stand-up comedian Zoe Lyons is to host Lightning, a physical game show for BBC Two in which contestants must stay out of the spotlight.
Alma's Not Normal begins filming
Sophie Willan's upcoming New On Two sitcom pilot, Alma's Not Normal, has begun filming on location in Bolton.
Dawn French to star in The Tail Of The Curious Mouse
Dawn French is to star in The Tail Of The Curious Mouse, a one-off comedy drama about when Roald Dahl met Beatrix Potter.
Sky orders darkly comic drama Sweetpea
Sky Atlantic is to air Sweetpea, an eight-part darkly comic drama about an average girl next door who has a long-buried secret.
Urban Myths Series 4 line-up revealed
Series 4 of Sky Arts' Urban Myths will feature stories about Les Dawson; Joan Rivers and Barbra Streisand; Jimi Hendrix; and Orson Welles.
Sky orders Intelligence Series 2
Sky One has ordered a second series of its new sitcom Intelligence, as the first series prepares to air.
Sky extends Brassic to Series 3
Sky One has ordered a third series of its hit new comedy drama Brassic, before the second series has begun airing.
Sky confirms Redknapps' Weekend Warm Up series
Sky has ordered a series called Redknapps' Weekend Warm Up. The football-based entertainment show will be fronted by Jamie Redknapp, Harry Redknapp and Tom Davis.
Greg Davies to star as a psychotherapist in Safe Space
Greg Davies is to star in Safe Space, a new Sky One sitcom about a psychotherapist.
Sky to broadcast paramedic comedy series Bloods
Sky One has ordered Bloods, a comedy about paramedics starring Samson Kayo and Jane Horrocks. The series follows on from Kayo's Comedy Shorts pilot.
Comedies up for Broadcasting Press Guild Awards
Brassic, Derry Girls, Fleabag, Gavin & Stacey and Mum are amongst the nominees in the Broadcasting Press Guild TV Awards 2020.
Emily Atack to pilot stand-up and sketch show
Emily Atack is to pilot The Emily Atack Show, which will see her "acting and making people laugh".
Athena Kugblenu receives Felix Dexter Bursary 2020
Stand-up comedian and writer Athena Kugblenu has been named as the recipient of this year's Felix Dexter Bursary scheme.
Year Of The Rabbit Series 2 confirmed
Year Of The Rabbit, the Victorian-set comedy series starring Matt Berry, is to return to Channel 4 for a second series.
Jon Richardson announces 2020 tour
Jon Richardson has announced a 2020 stand-up tour. He'll perform The Knitwit between September and December.
Adele Cliff wins UK Pun Championship 2020
Adele Cliff has been crowned the winner of the 2020 UK Pun Championships. There's video highlights of the contest in this news story.
Netflix orders third Sex Education series
Sex Education will return to Netflix for a new, third series.
Features
First Gig, Worst Gig: Alex Kealy
He's off on a debut stand-up tour - but is Alex Kealy thinking rationally?
British Comedy Quiz #88
To get 10 out of 10 this time you'll need to name a 1980s sketch show, remember how long Frank Spencer was on our screens for, recall who wrote Blandings, and more.
Random 8: Clinton Baptiste
He's the man behind Phoenix Nights' inappropriate paranormalist - and lots more besides - but which soft-rock singer does Alex Lowe fancy replacing?
BCG Pro
If you're a comedy creator, visit our BCG Pro website for news and insight. Fresh content includes tips for podcasts, advice for those submitting to Newsjack, and more.
Podcasts
Head to our podcast area for the latest audio offerings, and do check out our archive too... The brilliant sketch series The John Dredge Nothing To Do With Anything Show is due to return later this year, so why not catch up on the first four series?
TV listings
This Country
The third and final series of the hit sitcom starts. The first episode is a tribute to the character Slugs. As fans will be aware, the actor who played him, Michael Sleggs, died last year.
Cold Feet
Adam and Karen's future is thrown into jeopardy by an unexpected offer, and David is in turmoil over his growing feelings for Robyn. It's the last episode in the present series - and could it be the final ever?
Inside No. 9
Trevor and Julia always want to make Christmas really special for their family but this year, with money so tight, things aren't going to be easy.
Roast Battle
Rizzle Kicks' Jordan Stephens battles it out against Dane Baptiste. Then there's a fight that doesn't stay behind closed doors: Luke McQueen goes up against his landlady, Lou Sanders. Sara Pascoe is the guest judge.
8 Out Of 10 Cats
This week's episode of the topical panel show is being recorded tonight, so the guest line-up hasn't been revealed yet. We'll have details on our website in the morning.
Good Omens
The Comedy.co.uk Award-winning comedy drama series reaches its dramatic conclusion. Adam, Crowley and Aziraphale must work together to save the world from certain doom.
Home
Sami finds new opportunities to make friends and influence people on the local bus but is persuaded by Peter that the gig economy is the future of getting out and about to rebuild your sense of self-worth.
Hypothetical
Josh Widdicombe and James Acaster are joined by Tom Allen, Felicity Ward, Sue Perkins and Alex Brooker.
The Russell Howard Hour
With storms blowing across the UK, it's likely that Russell Howard will currently be looking for some good footage of the wind and water to share.
CelebAbility
Stacey Solomon leads three friends in a series of games against Katherine Ryan, Kieron Richardson, Denise Van Outen and Lauren Steadman.
Fern Brady Goes Viral
Fern Brady continues to look at viral videos, and attempt her own. This time she looks at the whispery world of ASMR, and gets into a flame war with a five-year-old child.
Would I Lie To You?
A second helping of some of the claims that didn't make it into previous episodes of the series.
Intelligence
A new sitcom set in the UK government's surveillance centre, starring Nick Mohammed and David Schwimmer. It opens with a double bill. Sky have already ordered a second series, as you'll have seen above, so this is definitely one to catch.
Bumps
A Comedy Playhouse pilot starring Amanda Redman as a divorcee who, concerned that despite having two grown up kids there is no stork on the horizon to bring her grandchildren, undergoes treatment to have another baby of her own.
The Last Leg
This week Adam, Josh and Alex will be joined by Jon Richardson, plus actors Imogen Poots and Jesse Eisenberg.
Frankie Boyle's Tour Of Scotland
In the third part of this travel series, Frankie Boyle heads from Glasgow to a stand-up show in Ayr. Along the way, he learns martial arts, has a go on the dodgems, and more.
The Big Narstie Show
This time the grime MC and his co-host Mo Gilligan are joined by guests including singer Charlotte Church, comedian and broadcaster Judi Love, and rap duo D-Block Europe.
Age Of Outrage
A sketch show pilot from BBC Wales. One of the videos has already gone viral, so this could prove a hit. Look out for a special appearance by "godfather of gunge" Dave Benson-Phillips.
Joel Dommett: Finding Emo
Joel Dommett performs his stand-up show about how he tried to re-form the emo band he played in when he was 15.
Last Tango In Halifax
The first of four more episodes of the comedy drama starring Anne Reid and Derek Jacobi. Alan and Celia are now seven years into their marriage and they aren't seeing eye to eye.
For a complete list of broadcasts, including repeats and radio comedy, see our full schedule.
Shop
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What Is Rhys James? - Complete Series 1 & 2Comedian Rhys James explores different aspects of himself through live stand-up, spoken word poetry and interview clips. In Series 1, Rhys James Is..., he examines his privileged status, chats to his mum and dad and reluctantly speaks to a girl he had a crush on in school. In Series 2, Rhys James Isn't..., he attempts to become more politically engaged by one week trying out one set of opinions; the next week, another. |
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Roger + The Rottentrolls - The Complete Series 1-4A thousand years ago, in a very strange valley where the rocks are all slightly mad, Merlin was trying to create a ski resort for King Arthur, when he picked up some strange Norwegian trolls in a snow cloud....Ever since, they waited for their mystical leader whose name they found carved in a rock - Roger Was Ere. So one day, when Roger Becket from Cowgill stopped at the bottom of the valley and shouted 'Roger Was Here' - from that moment on, he was King of the Rottentrolls! The BAFTA award-winning childrens' fantasy comedy series is now being released on DVD for the very first time. |
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Cold Feet - Complete Series One - NineAll nine series of the hit comedy drama about a group of friends struggling with adulthood, relationships, and eventually children, in Greater Manchester. If you've collected the previous eight series, the latest is also available separately. |
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Last ChristmasKate (Emilia Clarke) harumphs around London, a bundle of bad decisions accompanied by the jangle of bells on her shoes, another irritating consequence from her job as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. Tom (Henry Golding) seems too good to be true when he walks into her life and starts to see through so many of Kate's barriers. As London transforms into the most wonderful time of the year, nothing should work for these two. But sometimes, you gotta let the snow fall where it may, you gotta listen to your heart ... and you gotta have faith. Written by Emma Thompson, inspired by the music of Wham! and George Michael, and directed by Hollywood's Paul Feig, this popular new Christmas comedy film is released to own next month, packed with extras. |
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Think The Unthinkable - The Complete Series 1-4All four series of the Sony Award-winning radio sitcom. Meet the hapless management consultants of Unthinkable Solutions - idealistic team leader Ryan, sociopathic Sophie and hippy-dippy Daisy. Enthusiastic and enterprising, they're strong on jargon (and always ready to 'imaginate, reincentivise and skin the leopard'), but short on practical ideas - unfortunately for the unsuspecting corporations that come to them for help. By James Cary (Sitcom Geeks, Bluestone 42, Miranda), the sitcom stars Marcus Brigstocke, Emma Kennedy, Catherine Shepherd and David Mitchell. |
For more, see our full list of new releases and items coming soon.
Comedy videos
Lad Pad
Episode 2 of the sketch series from Ali Brice and Joz Norris. The duo are expecting a visit from Joz's noisy cousin Mr Fruit Salad.
M.O.T.H.E.R Knows Best
Series 2 of the dystopian comedy. The Interviewer is back, but he's forgotten it all. It helps to have seen Series 1 first - you can catch-up via our website.
Ham!
A gritty, well observed, commentary on the perils of organising a buffet.
Hearts
A short film about how a romantic gesture could go terribly wrong.
This was one of a number of comedies released on 14th February. There're more on our website, including 100 Reasons To Hate Valentine's Day, How To Date A Magical Creature, and Brett Domino's song.
Pie And A Pint - What Are You Anxious About?
The world can be a pretty unforgiving place at the best of times, with so many issues competing to impact our mental wellbeing. Various comedians chat about the topic in this Comedy Central episode.
Passive Aggressive Hip Hop
People say hip hop's aggressive, but have you ever heard passive aggressive hip hop?
When You Forget Pancake Day
Every year someone forgets pancake day. Don't let it happen to your friends. This will help you remember the 25th February.
Transaction - Liv Compares Hate Crimes
The web sitcom continues. There's a new cashier in the supermarket and she's... American. Liv struggles to cope with the newbie's upbeat attitude.
Two Weeks To Live - Trailer
A first look at Two Weeks To Live, the new Sky comedy series starring Maisie Williams as a young misfit who lives a secluded country life.
Greed - Full Trailer
Greed - starring Steve Coogan - tells the story of self-made British billionaire Sir Richard McCreadie, whose retail empire is in crisis. It's in cinemas from Friday.
Grimmerly
A new spelling app that will make sure people read your emails and could change your life forever.
Spotlight
The League Of Gentlemen
No, not the dark comedy geniuses, but the 1960 comic crime caper starring Jack Hawkins, Richard Attenborough, Bryan Forbes, Terence Alexander and others. Adapted by Forbes from a novel, this independent British film follows a gang of embittered and hard-up former military men as they plot and mount an audacious heist with military precision. The delightful adventure has just undergone a beautiful HD restoration and is now available to own on Blu-ray, with extras including a South Bank Show on Attenborough, and unedited interview footage with adapter/star, and future director/producer/studio executive, Bryan Forbes.
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